2 weeks ago
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GOVERNMENT Center, Palo, Leyte — A lawmaker has filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the alleged P96 million "ghost project" implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Samar.
Rep. Jonathan Clement Abalos of the 4PS Party-list filed House Resolution 2188, which calls on the Committee on Public Accounts to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the alleged anomalous infrastructure project in the Municipality of Llorente, Eastern Samar, implemented by the DPWH Eastern Samar Engineering District.
Abalos said Mayor Daniel Boco of Llorente, Eastern Samar, wrote him last Jan. 22, complaining about the existence of a project in his town that may have been anomalously implemented due to the fact that 90 percent of the contract amount has already been disbursed but little work was done by a private contractor.
Abalos said the infrastructure project of the DPWH Eastern Samar Engineering District Office in Borongan City under Contract ID 221B0128 calls for the construction of a 1.9-kilometer concrete road traversing Barangay Barobo-Can-ato-Candoros-Borak-Magtino in Llorente, Eastern Samar, with an allocated budget of P96,499,999.33.
He said the project was awarded to 888 AYC Enterprises with effectivity commencing on June 16, 2022, and an original stipulated completion date of March 12, 2023, which has been revised and extended to Aug. 7, 2023.
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Abalos said despite the lapse of the project's completion deadline, the road remains unfinished, with the contractor having merely cemented a portion and cleared the trail of vegetation without completing the concreting works as mandated under the contractual agreement.
The lawmaker reported that the contractor has billed and received payments exceeding 90 percent of the contract amount despite the project's non-completion, thereby raising concerns of possible fraud and mismanagement that may constitute a "ghost project."
Invited by the House Committee on Public Accounts to shed light on the matter were officials of the DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineering Office who were responsible for the release of the payments despite the non-compliance of the project.
They are Engr. Alvin Ignacio (then district engineer), Engr. Domcelio Natividad (then assistant district engineer), Engr. Michael Ador (construction chief), Engr. Judy Elgera (quality assurance chief), Engr. Marlon Kuizon (project engineer), Amalia Yap, the proprietor of 888 AMC Enterprises with an address in Makati City, and Engr. Vincent Estrella of Borongan City, the project subcontractor.
Engr. Ignacio and Engr. Natividad were reached for their comment through their email addresses but have so far not replied, while Mrs. Yap through a letter sent via courier.
